Our CEO, Josep Usall, chairs the jury that has recognised the initiatives with the greatest potential and innovation

As part of the Alimentaria+Hostelco 2026 exhibition, which began on Monday, this Tuesday afternoon we held one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Food & Hospitality Startups (F&HS) area: the presentation of the Food & Hospitality Startups Awards, which recognise the sector’s most innovative initiatives.

As co-organisers of this event dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation, we at IRTA have also taken the lead in coordinating these awards, which aim to raise the profile of the most disruptive initiatives in the food, drink and catering and hospitality equipment sectors.

The awards jury, chaired by our CEO Josep Usall, selected 14 finalist start-ups from among nearly 60 candidates. These start-ups offer innovative solutions that address the sector’s major challenges, ranging from sustainability to digitalisation and the improvement of production processes.

At this afternoon’s event, we were introduced to the winners, who stand out for their capacity for innovation and the scope of their projects:

• The award for the Most Innovative Start-up went to NOIET, in recognition of its commitment to a new generation of clean-label fermented ingredients that replace synthetic additives and make food simpler, healthier and more sustainable.
• The award for the startup with the greatest potential went to Uraphex, for its innovative project in water treatment for industrial processes.

The event served as a platform to recognise entrepreneurial talent and provided a fresh opportunity for start-ups to showcase their solutions to investors, companies and industry professionals. The winning companies represent initiatives that tackle today’s major challenges, ranging from sustainability to digitalisation and the improvement of production processes.

Through this initiative, we at IRTA reaffirm our commitment to driving innovation and knowledge transfer within the agri-food and hospitality sectors. The Food & Hospitality Startups space, which we co-organise with Alimentaria+Hostelco and ACCIÓ and which is supported by CaixaBank, has established itself as a key meeting point for start-ups, companies, investors and IRTA as a research centre. Over the course of these days, participating companies are having the opportunity to present their projects, forge new connections and explore opportunities for collaboration.